Woodstock man gets 5 years for sex abuse

By CHELSEA McDOUGALL - cmcdougall@shawmedia.com

May 9, 2014

WOODSTOCK – A Woodstock man who admitted to sexually abusing a young girl will be sent to prison for five years.

Pablo R. Torres, 56, was charged in August with sexually abusing the girl, who was not related, but otherwise known to him. He previously pleaded guilty to aggravated criminal sexual abuse, and remaining charges against him were dropped. The plea deal was agreed to by McHenry County Judge Gordon Graham.

Torres' former girlfriend, Amber Watson, was sentenced to probation on charges that she tried to get the young girl to recant statements the girl made to police. Watson allegedly told the girl, who was under 13 years old at the time, that she wouldn't see family members or get Christmas if she didn't take back allegations against Torres.

Watson appeared at Friday's sentencing and avoided eye contact with Torres when he was brought into Graham's courtroom. Torres has been in custody since his arrest.

The girl's grandmother, who was with Watson, asked that Assistant State's Attorney Kate Lenhard read a letter to the court. In it, she wrote that the girl receives counseling but is constantly tormented by classmates.

Torres' prison term will be followed by two years of parole. He must register for life as a sex offender.